Changeable display device



E T/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/ June 11, 1968 w. v. BUCHANAN ET AL 3,387,397

GHANGEABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 23. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RICA/4P00, Mil/f? 5Y7 A ORNEY June 11, 1968 w. v. BUCHANAN ET AL 3,387,397

CHANGEABLE DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets -Sheet :2

Filed 001;. 23, 196

INVENTORS WILL/AM BUCHANAN F/Cf/ARD 0. All/ll? A TORNEY United StatesPatent 3,387,397 CHANGEABLE DISPLAY DEVICE William V. Buchanan andRichard D. Muir, both of 429 Main SL, Newfield, N.Y. 14867 Filed Oct.23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,595 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-440) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A changeable display device which is assembled by snapping aplurality of characters into an elongated channel-like transparentholder where they are positively retained by channel flanges. Thetransparent holder is in turn mounted in a frame-like opaque channelstructure having inturned lips.

This invention relates generally to changeable display devices, and isespecially concerned with such devices as are adapted to displayselected characters of print and the like.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developedand employed for use as a nameplate, and will be described andillustrated hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it itunderstood that the device is capable of many varied applications, allof which are intended to be comprehended herein.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide achangeable display device of the type described, wherein characters maybe more quickly and easily inserted and removed for instant change, asdesired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a changeabledisplay device of the type described which is neat and highly attractivein appearance, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, andwhich can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide achangeable display device having the advantageous characteristicsmentioned in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the characters may beeconomically mass produced by injection molding or other inexpensivemeans, and wherein the remaining components may be manufactured byeconomic extrusion procedures.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing a changeable display deviceconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line2-2 of FIGURE 1, enlarged for clarity.

FIGURE 3 is a front perspective view showing the device of FIGURE 1 inan intermediate condition of assembly.

FIGURE 4 is a series of sectional views illustrating successive stagesin the assembly of a display character with a holder element of theinstant invention.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG- URE 2, showing aslightly modified embodiment.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing the device of the instantinvention employed as a desk nameplate, or the like.

3,387,397 Patented June 11, 1968 ice FIGURE 7 is a perspective viewshowing another embodiment of the present invention wherein the devicepresents the appearance of a picture frame.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 88 of FIGURE7, but illustrating the device in its fully assembled condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFIGURES 1-4 thereof, a changeable display device of the presentinvention is there generally designated 29, and includes an innergenerally channelshaped character holder 21, containing characters 22,and an outer enclosure or case 23.

The outer member or case 23 is of elongate, generally channel-likeconfiguration, having a constant cross section throughout its length,and may include a normally upstanding back wall 25, and upper and lowerforwardly projecting flanges 26 and 27 extending longitudinally alongand coextensive with the upper and lower edges of the back wall. Theforwardly projecting flanges 26 and 27 are respectively provided withinturnecl upper and lower marginal portions or lips 28'and 29, which mayalso be coextensive with the flanges and back wall 25. The lips 28 and29 extend toward and terminate short of each other, as best seen inFIGURES 2 and 3. Thus, defined within the space between the lips 28 and29 is a forward opening 30.

The holder 21 may also be of channel-like configuration having aconstant cross section throughout its length. The holder 21 may includea horizontally elongate, generally vertically disposed front wall or web32, which is provided at its upper and lower edges with longitudinallyextending, rearwardly projecting upper and lower flanges 33 and 34. Theflanges 33 and 34 are longitudinally coextensive with the front wall orweb 32, and the flanges are provided along their rear edges withinturned lips 35 and 36. The lips 35 and 36 are longitudinallycoextensive with the flanges 33 and 34, and extend inward toward eachother, terminating short of each other to leave a rear opening 37. Thelower pil 36 may be of substantial vertical extent and advantageouslyinclined slightly rearwardly, while the upper lip 35 is of lesservertical extent and advantageously formed with a camming surface 38 forentry of characters 22, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

In practice, the outer member or case 23 may be generally opaque, or atleast the front lips 28 and 29 may be opaque. However, the innerchannel-like member or holder 21 may advantageously be fabricated oftransparent material, or at least the front wall 32 may be of alight-permeable nature. The front opening of case 23 and thelight-permeable nature of holder front wall 32 provide a window forvisual access to the interior of the holder. Further, the outer case 23may be relatively stiff or rigid, while the inner member or holder 21may be of a resilient character, or at least the flange 33 may beresilient for deflection of the lip away from the lip 36.

The display elements 22 are shown as characters of print, each having abody 40' configured to represent a desired character and provided on theupper and lower ends of the body with horizontal runners 41 and 42. Therunners are each defined by a pair of oppositely projecting, alignedlateral extensions for end engagement with the runners or lateralextensions of the adjacent character. This end engagement of the runnersof adjacent characters insures proper spacing of the characters topresent the proper appearance to an observer, and is determined by thelengths of the runners. Further, as best seen in FIGURE 3, the runners41 and 42 are each formed on an outer side with a notch or cutout, as at43 and 44, respectively. In particular, the upper runner 41 is formed onits upper side with a notch or cutout 43, while the lower runner 42 isformed on its lower side with a notch or cutout 44. The notches orcutouts 43 and 44 enable the runners to be economically mass produced byinjection molding, or other suitable means, whereby a sprue may bebroken off without the remains thereof projecting beyond the adjacentouter surface of the runner.

In assembly, the selected characters 22 may be inserted in the holder21, as shown in FIGURE 4. The lower runner 42 of the character 22 isengaged into the space between the front holder wall 32 and lower lip36, and the upper runner 41 is moved forwardly to ride over the entrysurface 38 of lip 35 and snap engage into position between the latterlip and front wall 32. With the desired characters inserted transverselyinto the holder 21, in the manner described above, the characters may beslid toward each other to engage the runners of adjacent characters forproper spacing therebetween.

The thus assembled characters 22 and holder 21 may then be inserted intothe case 23, as by endwise insertion of the holder into the case in themanner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. The runners 41 and 42 of theseveral characters are then concealed behind the lips 28 and 29 of thecase 23, and the bodies 40 of the several characters are exposed throughthe light-permeable front holder wall 32 and opening 30.

In order to change the display of the device 20, it is only necessary toremove the holder 21 from the case 23, slide the characters 22 from theholder, and insert newly desired characters in the proper order.

In FIGURE 5 is shown a slightly modified embodiment, wherein an outercase 23a may be substantially identical to the outer case 22, and thenumerals or characters 22a may be substantially identical to thecharacters 22. The inner channel-like member or holder 21a of FIGURE 5may include a front wall or web 32a and upper flange 33a substantiallyidentical to the web and flange 32 and 33 of the first-describedembodiment. However, the inturned lip 35a on the rear edge of flange 33amay have a rounded entry surface 38a facilitating snap engagementthereby of the character 22a.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6 is shown an outer member or case 2312which may be essentially similar to the case 23, except that it isprovided on its rear side with a prop or strut 46 for engagement with asupporting surface when the lower edge of the case rests on a desk,table top or the like. Thus, the case 23b defines an easel fordisplaying the contained holder 21b and its display characters 22b.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8, the outer member or holder 23cincludes a frame-like arrangement of inturned lips, upper and lower lipsbeing designated 28c and 290, and a pair of end lips being designated48. Thus, the lips 28c, 29c and 48 serve to bound and define an opening300, in the manner of a picture frame. The case 23c is provided in itsupper side with a slot 49 opening downward to the interior of the casefor vertically slidably receiving the character holder 21c, in theposition of FIG- 4 URE 8. Of course, the holder 210 is insertable andremovable vertically through the slot 49, and characters are engageablein and removable from the holder 21c in the same manner as describedhereinbefore.

While the inherent flexible resiliency of the holder 21 enables thecharacters 22 to be snap engaged transversely into the holder, it willalso 'be appreciated that the notches or cutouts 43 and 44 of therunners 41 and 42 afford a degree of resiliency to the runners enablingthe characters to be snapped into the holder with minimum deflection ofthe holder. In addition to the spacing function of the runners 41 and42, it will, of course, be apparent that the runners serve to maintainthe characters in their proper upright disposition.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides achangeable display device which fully accomplishes its intended objectsand is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture,distribution and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A changeable display device comprising an elongate front wall oftransparent material, rearwardly projecting longitudinal flanges on saidfront wall, at least one of said flanges being resiliently deflecta'bleaway from the other flange, inturned lips on said flanges, a pluralityof separate characters of print, a pair of laterally extending upper andlower runners on each character, said characters each being removablydisposable facing the rear face of said front wall with said runnersinterposed between said front wall and respective inturned lips uponresilient deflection of said one flange, said runners being of a lengthfor engagement with the runners of adjacent characters to properly spacethe characters, and a case removably receiving said front wall, flangesand lips and having an opening exposing said characters thorough saidfront wall.

2. A changeable display device according to claim 1, at least one ofsaid inturned lips being configured to ride over a runner for snapinsertion of said characters forwardly into said facing relation withsaid front wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,285,760 11/1918 MacDonagh 40-64X 1,787,308 12/1930 Furlong 4016 FOREIGN PATENTS 671,450 9/1929 France.334,210 8/1930 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner.

